Murchison moves on
Alan Murchison has resigned from his position as executive chef at the one-Michelin-starred L'Ortolan restaurant in Shinfield, Berkshire. Murchison, who has been at the restaurant for two years, said he was leaving for "professional and personal reasons, probably at the beginning of August".
Managing director Jeremy Newman said he didn't see Murchison's departure as a setback for the restaurant and understood the chef's reasons for wishing to leave.
Murchison is helping Newman to find a replacement for the restaurant.
Galvin's new venture
Chris Galvin, chef-director at Conran Restaurants, has confirmed his decision to leave the group and join Jeremy King and Christopher Corbin in their new hotel and restaurant business, as predicted by Caterer last week. "I've really enjoyed developing restaurant projects and playing the mentoring role in my position as chef-director at Conran," said Galvin, "but I've been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Galvin will leave Conran Restaurants at end of next month.
Thomson hotel deal
Restaurateur James Thomson has bought the 26-bedroom Prestonfield House hotel in Edinburgh from the Stevenson family for an undisclosed sum.
Thomson already owns the Witchery restaurant and the Tower restaurant above the Museum of Scotland, both in the centre of Edinburgh. He plans an immediate multimillion-pound restoration of the historic hotel.
Stein's London lure
Former Chef Award Catey winner Rick Stein has expressed a desire to open a London outpost to his Cornwall restaurant and hotel empire.
Speaking in Square Meal, a restaurant and lifestyle magazine for people working in the City, he said: "I've had a few offers to do things here [in London] and am currently looking at a project with three other people. Though I'm keen to open something, I do feel it's too big a risk to do it entirely on my own."
Viner leaves Sevens
Kevin Viner has left his role as executive chef of Sevens, a fine-dining restaurant set up in Truro, Cornwall.
Viner had been asked by David and Jane White to oversee their 100-seat brasserie, Caf‚ Citron, and to open the 38-seat Sevens, which opened its doors at the end of February.
Restaurant manager Steve Holder confirmed that Viner had left early this month. He added that Viner had been there in a consultancy role and would not be replaced.
Viner told Caterer he was disappointed to have installed the team at Sevens and not been able to retain his involvement in the business.